The Winter Room

The light sweeps the room with its bluish breath;
the dying of another day slips quietly
into the barren soil and the world sleeps
beneath the heavy lids of night

where bare branches scrape window panes
begging for a warmth they once knew,
and the air snaps in the wind of invisible flags
holding vigil above the dead earth.

The moon is frozen in the darkest of voids
while I armor myself in flannel and burrow
under turrets of down determined to
keep the hollowness from swallowing me.

I will not be dragged into a tundra of despair
even though its reach is long and deep.
My heart flutters like a dying moth
caught in the mesmerizing path of a flame.

I hum a haunting lullaby softly to ward off
the bleakness that seeps into my soul waiting
for dawn to untie the double-knotted doubts
that tie me tight to the winter room.

Reviews

[kublakhan27]

You had me at bluish breath with this one my friend. It's my favourite season, and usually my most creative period of every year. I tend to tell everyone about that, many times over, so I may have mentioned it before haha I fell in love with this piece instantly...the imagery and how you present it here totally took my breath away. My favourite piece from your catalogue so far :)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for such a nice review. You rock!

[Blank]

This is beautiful, and the imagery is so vivid. I mean no disrespect but it brought to mind a very old cartoon about Jack Frost, and the way he went around "painting" the world in winter. It's a compliment really because that was a favorite of mine! But in all seriousness, this had an almost dance-like movement to it that made it very lyrical. I loved it, beautiful!

[icelandicblue]

No offense taken. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review. I like your Jack Frost imagery.

[ToneWolf]

I love winter, this piece puts me there immersed and ready to snuggle under my thickest blankets.

[icelandicblue]

It has it positive aspects too. Thanks for commenting.

[s y e]

I love the winter weather but then again I hate it, I love the snow but hate the cold.... This is an amazing write!

"The moon is frozen in the darkest of voids-
while I armor myself in flannel and burrow
under turrets of down determined to
keep the hollowness from swallowing me."

-- Your words always paint a vivid picture and from that plays a little video that always has me hooked. You really capture winter really well. This is hauntingly beautiful, Anne.... I love it and am totally speechless!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks, I'm always telling my students to paint pictures with their words. ; )

[s y e]

See, such a smart teacher you are!

[Rachelle]

Never experienced winter before but from your words, I now dread it.

[icelandicblue]

It can be beautiful and it can be cruel. I wish for warmer weather...but it will be 70 tomorrow so that's a nice reprieve.

[sodapopkid]

This is really good. It's also really sad. It captures the emotions of winter.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for stopping by.

[Joyce S. Greene]

You write the poem I feel every winter day, Anne. Winter is indeed "a tundra of despair" for those of us who can't tolerate its dark frigidity. A very impressive write, you've done very well!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks, I had to come up with something other than the winter of my discontent lol. I am glad you could relate to the poem.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

What amazing description you use in this haunting poem - Very beautiful writing.
I can emphasize with this person .. and the Winter seems to make many of us feel
exactly as you have written. Gorgeous, so well written!

[icelandicblue]

Hi Chloe,

Thank you for taking the time to read my poem. I appreciate that you enjoyed it. I will return the favor.

[Chloe..Across the Universe]

you are very welcome and i enjoyed it very much , beautiful and slightly haunting read.

[Frieda P]

Hauntingly gorgeous lullaby Anne, I'm rather speechless with this one.... I know that feeling of despair being swallowed by the discontent of winter's darkly discord, outstanding read my friend! 100/100, going right into my favorites.

[icelandicblue]

Oh Frieda, thank you, it's been a lousy day and you've just made it better. I appreciate you you know.

[Frieda P]

Sorry to hear that Anne, glad it lifted your spirits a bit, wish there was more I could do my friend. x

[zainul]

I am very glad to see that The Winter Room has made you so creative.
Enjoyed a lovely work that manifests the supremacy of natural phenomenon.
Love the stanza most:

"I will not be dragged into a tundra of despair
even though its reach is long and deep.
My heart flutters like a dying moth
caught in the mesmerizing path of a flame."

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much zainul for your comment and also thanks for the friend request.

[zainul]

You are most welcome,great poet.:)